Agriculture production has lost the nutrition due to the lack of nutrition in the agricultural lands of Sindh – experts
Tando Jam
Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam in a meeting on Friday discussed the issues related to lack of nutritional foods in Sindh and launching of diploma courses and preparation of curriculum for such knowledge in universities.
The meeting on new curriculum of the “Program for Improved Nutrition in Sindh” (PINS) funded by the European Union and Accelerated Action Plan (AAP), Government of Sindh, was held with Vice Chancellor Dr. Fateh Marri in the chair, at conference hall of the university.
The experts participating the meeting viewed that agriculture production has lost the nutrition due to the lack of nutrition in the agricultural lands of Sindh.
According to them the child mortality in Thar is due to malnutrition, and noted that more than 23% children are lost before birth due to lack of food for pregnant women.
Dr. Ayesha Aziz, Senior Nutrition Advisor, EU, Mushtaq Ahmad Shahani, Agriculture Strategic Advisor, and Muhammad Akbar Raza, Livestock and Agriculture Strategic Advisor, Dr. Qamaruddin Chachar, Dean, Faculty of Crop Production, Dr. Jan Muhammad Marri, Dean, Faculty of Crop Protection; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar, Director, University Advancement and Financial Assistance; Dr. Saba Ambreen Memon, Chairperson, Department of Horticulture, Dr. AIjaz Ahmed Soomro Chairman Department of Agronomy and others were present during meeting.
Vice Chancellor Dr. Fateh Marri said Sindh’s children are suffering from severe malnutrition, poverty. “Lack of nutrition and minerals in pregnant women causes declining health of children and rapidly losing their weight, height and mental health,” he said.
Dr. Ayesha Ahmed said that said that Sindh Agriculture University in collaboration with Health, Population Welfare, Education, Livestock, Fisheries, Social sciences and other departments, will start a diploma and degree program so that the graduates of university can render services in the related fields.
Dr. Jan Mohammad Marri, Dean, Faculty of Crop Protection, said that Thar is the only area in Sindh where more children are dying due to malnutrition, therefore project should be started at Umerkot campus of SAU.
Mushtaq Ahmad Shahani said that new curriculum and degree program on health, nutrition, agricultural products and human development should be included in the in public sector universities so that future generations can be protected from malnutrition.
Prof. Dr. Ismail Kambhar said that SAU already has such subjects, but new research can be done jointly with national and international organizations in the field. He said that the problem of nutrition is not only related to the health sector but also the purchasing power and economic problems of the people.
Muhammad Akbar Raza, Dr. Saba Ambreen Memon, Dr. Gulfam, Dr. Tehseen Fatima Miano, Dr. Asiya Panhwar, Dr. Asadullah Marri, Dr. Shoaib Pirzada, Dr. Farman Siyal and others were also present on the occasion.
Degree Courses on Halal Products
On Thursday, the SAU held consultation on introducing degree courses on production of Halal Foods, as there is huge market for halal products available in the world.
Consultation organized by the Animal Product Technologies Department was held at Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, presided by Prof. Dr. Fateh Marri, Vice Chancellor.
The meeting decided to introduce new degree courses in consultation with investors for production of milk, meat, leather and its by-products as per international standards.
Vice Chancellor said that SAU will also consult with investors for introducing modern technology and new courses in the manufacture and research of halal products and in this regard, exporters and investors will be invited to the university.
Prof. Dr. Syed Ghiyasuddin Shah Rashdi, Dean, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, said that the laboratories of the faculty need to be equipped with more modern equipment, through which the nutrition, quality and contains of dairy, agriculture, food and bakery products can be improved and product can be checked.
He said that the experts in the faculty have the potential to run projects in various dairy products, meat and other fields as per industry standards, which would not only develop the food industry but also create many business opportunities for the trained graduates.
Dr. Syed Attaullah Shah, Chairman, Animal Products Technologies, said that there is a need to set up Dairy and Meat Testing Laboratories for exporting meat worldwide.
PhD Scholars from various universities of China Dr. Munir Ahmed Jamali, Dr. Shabbir Ali Barham, Dr. Saleem Kalhoro, Dr. Gulbahar Khaskheli said that through processing technology, meat paste preparation enhances the shelf life of meat while packed milk, yogurt, Lassi and other products can be exported, while industrial businesses such as packaging of lassi in different flavors and other food items can be exported to Muslim countries. (PR)
________________
